Rock On
Diamond Shell Lyrics
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I was walkin' down the street a brother bumped me
A really bad way to confront me
So I glared at him he got pissed
He stepped back and started flingin his fists
So I dodged to the left and then went for mine
Reached in my camouflage, and pulled out my nine
I said, "Freeze black, and stand still
Don't make me do you in the street because I will"
Yo so, at that note he stood still
He had his hands up
I coulda killed him but I didn't that's just his luck
I said, "Yo, you got til ten
So turn slow like and start steppin"
So he did as I said, so slow he turned
He took off so fast I smelled the sneakers burn
But the smell from the smoke was his brain
in which I branded my name
I am the Diamond Shell, I rock on
(Diamond Shell, rock on!)
I'm in my crib sleepin' but I'm still strapped
So I heard a strange noise
And grabbed the nine from underneath my pillow
The nine in my robe, crept down the hall so slow
I see two beautiful girls, robbin' all of my dough
I watch them as they move, so smooth like cats
They took the dough, TV VCR and all that
One of the girls I knew, could this all be a joke?
I had to move quick 'fore I wind up broke
So I stepped down the steps and then reached for my gun
They both tried to run but I grabbed one
Her eyes were blood red and packed up with fear
She said it wasn't her plan it was her friends out there
I felt a warm spot in my heart that night
I told her, "Yo you got to piss and you best take flight"
She did as I said, so slow she turned
She took off so fast I smelled the sneakers burn
But the smell from the smoke was her brain
in which I branded my name
I am the Diamond Shell
(Diamond Shell, rock on!)
I'm chillin' in my crib, the telephone rang, hello?
A girl around the way, I won't reveal her name
To protect the innocent from a lot of shame
Now before the girl said even two words more
I hung up the telephone and was at her door
I made the first move just to show her who's boss
I kissed her on the mouth with crazy force
I must have turned her on 'cause she stood right up
Dropped her gear and stood there in her butt
Then she kissed me on my face and then she grabbed my hand
Led me into the bedroom, the promised land
I cleared my head and then I went for broke
I knocked the boots so hard I smelled the sneakers smoke
But the smell from the smoke was her brain
in which I branded my name
I am the Diamond Shell, I rock on
I rock on
'Cause I'm the Diamond Shell, I rock on
(Diamond Shell, rock on!)
The lyrics to Diamond Shell's song "Rock On" tell different stories of conflict that are resolved through violence, but not always in the most conventional way. In the first verse, Diamond Shell is confronted by someone on the street, and instead of backing down or fighting, he pulls out a gun and threatens the other person. In the second verse, Diamond Shell catches two women robbing his house and also pulls a gun, but after capturing one of them, he lets her go. The third verse is about a sexual encounter, but even in this seemingly unrelated story, violence and domination play a role.
The underlying message of "Rock On" seems to be that Diamond Shell is not to be messed with. He is willing to be violent and use his power to get what he wants, but he also has a certain code of honor. He doesn't kill the person who confronts him on the street or the woman who robs his house, and he is rewarded for this restraint by their compliance. In the sexual encounter, Diamond Shell also takes charge and asserts his dominance, but the woman seems to enjoy it.
Overall, "Rock On" is a song about power and control, but it also shows that there are limits to that power. Diamond Shell uses violence as a means to an end, but he doesn't always use it wantonly. The song is also notable for its use of imagery related to sneakers and smoke, which creates a sense of danger and excitement.
Line by Line Meaning
I was walkin' down the street a brother bumped me
I was walking down the street when a man bumped into me.
A really bad way to confront me
The bump was an aggressive way to confront me.
So I glared at him he got pissed
I gave him a stern look, which made him angry.
He stepped back and started flingin his fists
He took several steps back and started throwing punches.
So I dodged to the left and then went for mine
I dodged to the left and grabbed my weapon.
Reached in my camouflage, and pulled out my nine
I reached into my clothing and pulled out my gun.
Then Hobbes took a chill
The man named Hobbes calmed down.
I said, "Freeze black, and stand still
I told him to stop and stand still.
Don't make me do you in the street because I will"
I threatened him that I would kill him if he didn't comply.
Yo so, at that note he stood still
He stopped and did not move anymore.
He had his hands up
He held his hands up to show no resistance.
I coulda killed him but I didn't that's just his luck
I had the opportunity to kill him, but I chose not to.
I said, "Yo, you got til ten
I gave him a countdown until ten.
So turn slow like and start steppin
I told him to turn around slowly and walk away.
So he did as I said, so slow he turned
He followed my instructions and slowly turned around.
She did as I said, so slow she turned
The girl at my house followed my orders and turned slowly.
She took off so fast I smelled the sneakers burn
She ran away so fast that her shoes were burning.
But the smell from the smoke was his brain
in which I branded my name
The smoke and burning smell was a reference to the power Diamond Shell had over the people he interacted with.
I'm in my crib sleepin' but I'm still strapped
I was at home sleeping with my gun still in reach.
So I heard a strange noise
I heard a sound that was unusual.
And grabbed the nine from underneath my pillow
I took my gun from underneath my pillow.
I see two beautiful girls, robbin' all of my dough
I saw two women stealing all of my money.
They both tried to run but I grabbed one
Both of the women tried to run away, but I caught one of them.
I made the first move just to show her who's boss
I initiated physical contact with the woman to assert my dominance.
I must have turned her on 'cause she stood right up
Dropped her gear and stood there in her butt
The woman must have been aroused because she got up, took off her clothes and stood in front of me naked.
Then she kissed me on my face and then she grabbed my hand
Led me into the bedroom, the promised land
She kissed me and took me to the bedroom.
I cleared my head and then I went for broke
I knocked the boots so hard I smelled the sneakers smoke
I focused and gave it my all when we had sex, to the point where her movements caused her shoes to burn.
'Cause I'm the Diamond Shell, I rock on
Diamond Shell is confident in his power and influence over others.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind